“It’s not like that, Carter. Alexia just needed a place to stay. I’m sure she told you that her parents have been less than . . . supportive.”

“What?” Carter asked, clearly having no idea what he was talking about. “I gather you know, but she already told her parents as well?” The concern in Carter’s voice was real and raw. Brant found himself feeling sorry for him.

Alexia was nowhere to be seen and Brant sat on a barstool in his kitchen faced with a decision. If she was going to place him in the middle of whatever was going on with Carter, then he wasn’t going to lie when asked a direct question. “Yeah, she did and it was . . . tough.”

Carter’s voice rose again as he asked, “What do you mean, tough?”

Sighing, Brant said, “Tough as in don’t expect any support from them. I think they pretty much made her feel like an outcast and she left. With things up in the air with you and them cutting her off at the knees, she was desperate. That’s the only reason she would have come to me after all this time.”

“Damn, she really didn’t need that after me being such an asshole about the whole thing.”

“I don’t really know much about Alexia now, but back when we were together, she had always had a man in her life making the decisions. First, it was her father and then me. I think she almost needs the comfort and familiarity now while she tries to get her life together. Especially if things are unsettled between you two. I suspect that’s the biggest reason she turned to me when her parents didn’t offer it.”

“Yeah,” Carter answered absently, “that makes sense. I guess I have been playing that role in our relationship. I just . . . I’m so afraid of her falling back into that old crowd she was running with. I can’t stand to see her relapse after going through so much to get clean. She thinks it means I don’t trust her and that she’s just a burden to me. I know that she’s doubting our whole relationship no matter how much I try to convince her that everything is okay.”

Brant was starting to feel like he was a cross between Alexia’s father and a host on a dating show, but this stuff happened when you got involved in people’s lives—and he was in up to his neck in Alexia’s. “Just give her time, Carter. Let her recover from this fallout with her parents and then try again.”

Carter insisted on leaving his phone number and grudgingly thanked him for his help. Finally, with assurances that he would call if anything happened with Alexia, Brant gratefully ended the conversation. He wasn’t used to dealing with emotional people very often, and it was damned exhausting. Suddenly he remembered the day that Emma had faked a crying spell at work to yank his chain and chuckled. God, he missed her so much in that moment that he felt an actual ache in the area of his heart. He was more determined than ever to get things settled here so he could focus his attention back on the little spitfire who was turning his carefully ordered existence on its ass.

“I’m sorry, Brant.” He turned to find Alexia shifting nervously from one foot to the other behind him. “I shouldn’t have put that off on you. It’s just too . . . hard.” Brant felt a different ache as she started to sob on the last word. This ache he knew was something like heartburn from too much stress. No doubt he had even consumed some type of dairy product without thinking during dinner as well.

“It’s okay, Lex, I managed. Carter seems like a nice guy and he obviously cares about you.”

The tears started falling harder and Brant thought that maybe he should have suggested they talk in the morning and run for the sanctuary of his room. It was probably never smart to mention anything about feelings to an emotional woman.

“He’s . . . great . . . he does . . . love . . . me,” Alexia managed to get out between sobs. Brant pulled a tissue from the box on the bar and then thought better of it and handed her the entire box instead. He patted her back awkwardly and for the second time that day she wrapped her arms around him and cried. He rubbed her back and just let her cry. He had a feeling that the upheaval with Carter was just a small part of the upset. Very little time had passed since she had left rehab, and she was no doubt still trying to come to terms with the daily struggle to stay clean. She was scared to be a burden to Carter, but terrified to be alone. He cursed her parents silently for being so insensitive to what their daughter was going through. She needed them and whether they had intended to or not, they had confirmed in her mind that she was nothing but a burden to those she loved now. Brant felt that if things had gone better with them, she would have been more willing to listen to Carter and have hope that their relationship could work.

“He does love you,” Brant agreed, “and he’s worried about you.”

She took a moment to dry her eyes before asking, “Will you come sit with me for a while? Maybe we could watch a movie. You’re the only one I feel good around right now.” Brant felt warning bells go off inside of him. He could be her friend, regardless of their history, but he couldn’t be her savior. That job needed to go to the man who loved her. He would have to step carefully, because he didn’t want to drive a wedge between her and Carter.

“Ah, I wish I could. I have some meetings tomorrow.” She must think you’re an insensitive prick, but it’s for the greater good, right? “I . . . it’s just that I was away for a few days and now things are really backed up at work.”

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s okay. I grew up with a workaholic father, so I do understand that business usually comes first.” Brant winced, but he didn’t see any other options. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Carter was the man she needed to be her rock now.

“If you’re all right now, I think I’ll head to bed. Do you have everything you need?”

Alexia nodded and turned toward the guest room. Great, Brant thought as he walked toward the master bedroom at the other end of the house. That was the second time in one day that a woman had looked at him like he was an asshole. First, Emma for having her make dinner reservations and now Alexia. He didn’t seem to be pleasing any of the women in his life and that stung a lot more than it used to.

Chapter Fifteen

Suzy looked up from her computer as Emma threw herself in the chair in front of her friend’s desk. Before she was even seated, she moaned to Suzy, “You aren’t going to believe this.”

“Oh, go ahead and try me,” Suzy said with interest.